No Matter What He Does, Case Keenum Can’t Win as Los Angeles Rams Quarterback

Despite decent performances over the last two games, Case Keenum is in a no-win position with Los Angeles Rams.

Case Keenum finds himself in a tough position with the Los Angeles Rams when considering no matter what he does, the quarterback can’t win. Unfortunately, Keenum is set up in one of the biggest no-win situations that an NFL player can be in when considering the Rams have invested their future in Jared Goff–a player the team traded up for to draft in May.

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The best case scenario for Keenum is to turn out like Brian Hoyer, where he finds success with Los Angeles before moving on to play with a different team down the road. While this could provide him with a longer NFL career, the situation could also go the opposite way by being over before it truly is given a fair chance.

If the Rams are going to be playoff contenders and win games, it will come from their staunch defense, or tough running style of Todd Gurley. While this is partly true, Keenum’s ability to manage the game shouldn’t be overlooked.

The term “game manager” is dreaded for most quarterbacks in the NFL, and is often looked at as a negative, but should it be? Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer were labeled as game managers during their playing career, and even Russell Wilson has been given the moniker.

However, all three of these quarterbacks have what every quarterback wants and is ultimately judged on, which is a Super Bowl ring.

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So why can’t Keenum win?  Not only is his offensive line suspect at best, but the skill players the Rams have acquired over the last few years aren’t exactly world beaters.

Despite all this, Keenum has been able to pull the offense together and make Kenny Britt look like a decent NFL receiver. He has even bested Wilson in the two times he’s faced him as the Rams starter over the last two seasons.

Even with his ability to place the team in better scenarios than Sam Bradford and Nick Foles, Keenum should be considered a place holder at best that is managing the show until Goff is ready to take over. Sadly, no one really knows when that time is going to be when looking at all of the struggles surrounding Goff in the preseason.

If the Rams don’t continue to be competitive in the NFC, it could end up being sooner rather than later. And once Goff takes over at quarterback, it will be his team for good as you don’t jump up and take a guy at No. 1 if you aren’t prepared to let him figure it out on his own.

While Keenum is guiding the Rams and keeping the starting job warm until Goff is ready, he hopes to be making some money in the process. If he can be successful as the starter for Los Angeles this season, there might be a chance for him to get a starting job somewhere else in the league down the road.

If not, Keenum will assuredly be able to find work in a backup role. Maybe one day finding the late career success of Johnson and Dilfer.

But for now, Keenum is with Los Angeles as the quarterback for the Rams and even if the team wins, he undoubtedly can’t.